Scoping study, training and matchmaking services (2025)

On behalf of HollandDoor, Jos Leeters is involved in two parallel projects in Moldova. The first is a scoping study commissioned by the Dutch government, through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Moldova. This study aims to identify the challenges and needs of the Moldovan fruit and vegetable sector, while also pinpointing opportunities for sector development and potential collaboration with Dutch stakeholders. The second project is a technical training program tailored to the vegetable industry, commissioned by the Japan International Cooperation (JICA). Both projects share the overarching goal of modernizing the fruit and vegetable sector and enhancing its competitiveness.

Moldova boasts a rich horticultural heritage but remains a relatively small player in the global fruit trade. With its increasing alignment with the European Union, Moldova is presented with new opportunities for business growth and collaboration. However, the potential for further growth in the horticultural sector is constrained by several factors, including inefficiency and limited scale, outdated cultivation and postharvest technologies, inadequate measures to mitigate climate change risks, and weak marketing power and visibility in European markets. The Netherlands, alongside other European countries and Japan, possess the expertise, advanced technologies, and networks necessary to support Moldova in improving the productivity and quality of its horticultural sector.